A/N: Chapter two of Killing Snape. Just like the title says: apologies,
plans, and breakfast. So before you ask who Hermione is with, I'll tell
you. Hermione flirts with both Ron and Harry, so to please both types
of shippers, I have told the boys to share her. They don't like it
very much, but this story is not a romance, so (sorry folks) there
will be no fighting for the girl. You'll really be able to tell that I
was hungry when I wrote what Calista was having for breakfast. *grin*
Harry, 'Mione(how many people does that annoy?), and Ron make plans...
(Oho!). And Snape, whoa, what's he been smoking?
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry, Hermione, Ron, or any of the people, places,
things, or ideas that are found in the Harry Potter books. Everything
belongs to J.K. Rowling (the Great). Even the major plot line does
not belong to me; it belongs to Lois Duncan author of the novel
Killing Mr. Griffin (which is a great read, by the way). I, in no way
claim any rights to any of the trademarked material in this fanfiction.
I make no money out of this. The only thing I own is Calista (and her
mirror), which is my own character.
* * * * * * * *
Chapter 2: Apologies, Plans, and Breakfast
"Calista! Calista! Are you paying attention?" Snape said sharply.
Calista snapped back to reality from her thoughts.
"Er... yes professor, I was... am." She stuttered.
"Then what potion are frog spleen and monkshood key ingredients to?"
"Er... an invisibility potion."
"Ha! You weren't paying attention," he snapped, "monkshood and frog spleen are key ingredients to a temporary sleeping potion. If you had a test tomorrow, you wouldn't have known that!"
Calista sank in her seat, she hated it when Snape yelled at her.
Snape gave her a disapproving look, and went on. The rest of the class went smoothly. Snape seemed to be throwing her practically every question, just to catch her day dreaming again. But Calista answered every one correctly, because she made sure to pay attention. Finally the bell rang and there was a mad rush to get to the door. But Calista always took her time. It wasn't like anyone was waiting for her. As Calista slowly walked her way towards the door Snape said, "Calista, come here."
Calista turned around curiously, and walked to Snape's desk.
"Calista, I'm sorry."
She just stood there stupidly. Was she hearing things or had Snape just said sorry to her?
"I'm sorry," Snape repeated, "I was in a bad mood, I had no intention of being so harsh."
"Of course Professor," Calista said, shocked
"Sometimes I react too quickly to situations, please don't think I was trying to pick on you. You know, you are my best student. I know I expect a lot out of my students, but I also know that you always try your best. You stand out among the others. Please try hard, and keep up your wonderful work, you could have a great future in potion making."
Snape had bent down to her height and was looking her straight in the eyes. She could smell his greasy hair, and could see the wrinkles that ran up his face. They looked remarkably like a river and it's tributaries. Up close, Snape looked much older and even slightly tired.
Calista nodded awkwardly, and Snape stood straight again. She slowly turned around and hurriedly walked out the dungeon door, and Snape watched her. He sighed and went back to grading papers.
* * * * * * * *
Calista was walking through the hallways to the Slytherin common room, when she heard someone giggling. It came from an empty classroom. She peered inside the half-open door and she spotted Ron, Harry, and Hermione laughing over something. Ron turned around and caught her eye and smiled. Calista smiled and waved back to him, and quickly scurried away. Ron! Ron, the gorgeous, funny, witty, and popular Ron had just smiled at her!!! Calista shivered with happiness and ran the rest of the way to the common room.
* * * * * * * *
Ron laughed, "That Calista girl." He said, shaking his head.
"Ron," Hermione said, "Don't you think someone might catch us here, like Filch. Or what if Snape comes by?"
"No, hardly anyone comes here around this time of day," he said as he closed the door.
"And speaking of Snape," Harry said, "that was awful the was he treated you at the start of class."
Hermione agreed. "I hated the way he made you beg. I'd like to see that prat beg YOU!" She said angrily.
A smile crept up Ron's face. "That isn't a bad idea."
"What isn't?
"Making him beg us." He replied.
"Beg us? Well how are we supposed to make him beg us?" Harry asked.
"Easy." Ron said in a confident tone. "We kidnap him."
"Kidnap him? But Ron, isn't that risky, we could get caught and we'd be expelled for sure."
"No, we won't get caught and Snape's not going to know who we are."
"What do you mean?" Hermione said.
"We get him onto the quidittch grounds, I sneak up from behind and blindfold him, Harry stuns him and we take him into the Forbidden Forest, and we can take care of him from there." Harry and Hermione were silent.
* * * * * * * *
Ron had changed so much since their fourth year. He had grown into a smart, attractive, good looking, young man of 17 years. Hermione would sometimes sit on her four-poster and look at old photos that she had gathered over the years. She put them all in an album she had decorated herself, with pressed flowers. Ron was tall and skinny with bright orange hair. He was covered in freckles, and had bright blue eyes. That was three years ago when that photo had been taken; now he looked very different. He had gone through that natural magic every boy goes through at that age, and now, well... he looked gorgeous. Hermione smiled at the thought.
Ron saw her and ignored it. Girls were so strange at times. He and Harry would be discussing something serious and Hermione's face would suddenly brighten into a smile... not that that was a bad thing.
"But Ron," Harry said breaking the silence in which Ron and Hermione were giving each other odd looks, "How do we get Snape onto the quidditch grounds?
He hardly every goes outside."
"That's where the bait comes in." Ron said.
"Bait?"
"Calista. Just think about it, it's perfect. Calista is a good student and Snape loves her, he just doesn't show it. She could pretend to need some help with a potion, and ask him to talk to her after class. She'll ask him to take a walk with her while he explains. She gets him onto the grounds, and we take it from there."
"But Ron," Harry said again, "Calista? Calista is faultless, she'd never help us kidnap Snape. She'd be horrified at the idea, let alone help us."
"Harry, have you forgotten who you're talking too? I'll talk her into it, you don't worry about that. But will you do your part? Will you help me?"
"Well, Ron, you know I'd do anything for you. It just..."
"'It just' what?"
"Seems dangerous." Harry sighed, "Never mind, I'll do it."
"That's my boy!" Ron said slapping his back. "And you, honey will you?" Ron asked Hermione, putting on his most his most handsome smile.
"Ron," Hermione said provocatively, "of course." She smiled sweetly. Ron smiled back and kissed her cheek. "Good girl."
The three picked up their bags and went out the door.
"This is going to be one hell of a show." Ron said as they left the classroom.
* * * * * * * *
Calista woke up early on Sunday morning. She yawned and stretched. A blue
bird was singing happily on the windowsill outside.
"Good morning Bernice," she said as she knelt beside the window in her nightgown. "It's a beautiful day isn't it! It just makes me want to sing!"
The bird gave a tweet in reply, and a second bird joined. "My, you two
are looking good today."
The two birds twittered looking at each other and then at Calista.
"Slow down, slow down! What is it? Are you hungry? Is that it?"
They gave a loud tweet together as if to say "YES!"
"All right then, wait a second," Calista said as she scooped up some of the birdseed from her bag, "There you are."
The birds ate the seeds out of her hand and twittered in thanks.
"Good bye!" She called as the two birds flew off into the distance.
Sometimes she wished she could be a bird. They were free to do anything and didn't have any of worries that she had. She sighed and shook off that thought.
Calista dressed and combed her hair. A lot of good that did she thought to herself, disgusted with the frizz. She went down into the common room and outside into the hallway.
It was Sunday so she had the day off. She usually skipped breakfast on Sundays and she'd spent the day aimlessly wandering the library. But today she was hungry and decided to go down to the Great Hall to eat. She decided to get there and eat quickly, so she could avoid the morning crowd. She walked briskly through the hallways. The cold morning air stung her face and arms, she pulled her robes closer to her body. She went down the staircase and walked to the Slytherin table and sat down on the very end. A plate appeared in front of her, with eggs, a few strips of crisp bacon, buttered toast, half a grapefruit, and a glass of milk. People who came down early in the morning to have breakfast didn't have a large selection of food items to choose from. But this was more than enough for Calista. She nibbled on the bacon and had a few spoonfuls of scrambled egg, it was delicious. I ought to come down here more often.
A/N: Next chapter, help from a mirror, a trip to Hogsmede, and more plans for Calista. Ron is trying really hard to gain Calista's trust and he er... does things he wouldn't normally do. Hermione gets jealous (even if Ron is just putting on an act)... this could get dangerous. Many thanks to Tulip my beta!